Ted Nugent apologizes for calling Obama a 'subhuman mongrel'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Rock star turned right-wing activist Ted Nugent said he apologizes, but not necessarily to U.S. President Barack Obama, for calling Obama a "subhuman mongrel."

Nugent -- who is campaigning on behalf of Texas Lt. Gov. Greg Abbott in the state's race for governor -- recently told an interviewer he had "obviously failed to galvanize and prod and not shame enough Americans to be ever vigilant not to let a Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communist- nurtured, subhuman mongrel like the ACORN community organizer gangster, Barack Hussein Obama, to weasel his way into the top office of authority of the United States of America."

Critics, including CNN anchor Wolfe Blitzer, noted the use of the term "subhuman mongrels."

"That's what the Nazis called Jews to justify the genocide of the Jewish community," Blitzer said.

"I do apologize -- not necessarily to the president -- but on behalf of much better men than myself," he said in apologizing "for using the street-fighter terminology of 'subhuman mongrel' instead of just using more understandable language, such as 'violator of his oath to the Constitution.'"

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said in a Twitter post Thursday Nugent's "derogatory description of President Obama is offensive and has no place in politics. He should apologize."

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.